DOI issue:
Nr. 343 (December 1925)
DOI article:White, Elizabeth: Lead and tin in art
DOI Page / Citation link: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.19986#0193
mceRtiACionAL
LEAD AND TIN IN A<RT
Tin and lead may be Metals looked upon as In mediaeval Europe
indifferently relegated purely utilitarian things, Iead work is cIoseIy associ"
by us today to the ^ ^ W > reCQrds ated with architecture in
utilitarian stock in trade oi r j rooting, spires, lanterns,
the plumber and tinsmith, in usa9e ln tne arts parapets and gutters, as
but they have a family his- ELIZABETH WHITE we^ as a remarkable variety
tory that not only goes of ornamental detail. Ham-
proudly back to immemorial time, but also in- mering, incision and gilding were used to increase
-eludes many important phases of artistic expres- the beauty of the lead crests and finials on the
sion. When the Prophet Ezekiel rebuked the ridges and summits of Gothic buildings. The
Phoenician merchants of Tyre, some six hundred gilding of the ornamental Ieadwork of St. Cha-
years before the Christian era, for their amassing pelle, the .pierced and painted ridge of the Cathe-
of wealth in the tin and lead trade with Tarshish, dral of Bourges and the spire of the Cathedral of
both metals already had had a long and honorable Amiens are fine examples that come readily to
record of service. Tin mind of the work of
was valued at this
time, chiefly, if not
wholly, as an alloy of
bronze, but lead was
considered an import-
ant metal in itself, be-
cause of its malleabil-
ity and its low heat of
fusion, which rendered
its working compara-
tively easy.
One might hit all
the high spots of the
old Mediterranean
civilizations and those
of Asia Minor and find
lead in statuary or or-
nament each time. A
prehistoric statue
found in Egypt marks
the early period of its
use there, continued
the' mediaeval plomb-
ier. Indeed, much of
this handicraft resem-
bled that of the gold-
smith on a colossal
scale and formed an
art quite apart from
the working of wood or
stone.
Practical consider-
ations, no doubt, in-
fluenced the choice of
lead, since it is. not af-
fected by exposure
and so formed an ideal
material for roofing.
Moreover, the ease
with which the roof
and its filigree of lead-
work could be melted
up and poured down
on undesirable people
through most of Egyp- early American tin clock below must have af-
7 • f-r^r Courtesy of Ewin and Robinson r j r r , t
tian history. There ' forded a iurther argu-
are other names to conjure with. The marvelous ment in its favor. It is to this habit of pouring
Minoan civilization of Crete, the five historic hot lead on besiegers that one must ascribe not
cities of the Trojan plain and ancient Mycenae, only the loss of many a "preux cavalier," but also
Sparta, and Athens, itself, form part of the story, of many a fine old roof and finial. There was
The practical genius of the Romans diverted this much sculpture in this material—Dijon in the
accommodating metal both to statues and water fifteenth century was the center of a school of
pipes. The tremendous system of water supply sculpture—and many a sarcophagus and monu-
for Rome had lead piping. Indeed, a stray con- ment of this period are embellished with figures,
signment of pig lead for this purpose was found in in part at least, of lead. The custom of mediaeval
Chester, England, a relic of its Roman occupation, craftsmen in France in making lead figures, was
while pipes have been excavated there bearing the to beat sheets of lead upon a wooden mould,
inscription of their laying in 79 A. D.—"or when The over-lapping edges were usually soldered to-
Vespasian and Titus were consuls for the eighth gethcr, and the figure gave the solid appearance
and ninth times," in the Roman style of dating, of casting, but had really remarkable lightness.
december i 9 2 5
one ninety-three
LEAD AND TIN IN A<RT
Tin and lead may be Metals looked upon as In mediaeval Europe
indifferently relegated purely utilitarian things, Iead work is cIoseIy associ"
by us today to the ^ ^ W > reCQrds ated with architecture in
utilitarian stock in trade oi r j rooting, spires, lanterns,
the plumber and tinsmith, in usa9e ln tne arts parapets and gutters, as
but they have a family his- ELIZABETH WHITE we^ as a remarkable variety
tory that not only goes of ornamental detail. Ham-
proudly back to immemorial time, but also in- mering, incision and gilding were used to increase
-eludes many important phases of artistic expres- the beauty of the lead crests and finials on the
sion. When the Prophet Ezekiel rebuked the ridges and summits of Gothic buildings. The
Phoenician merchants of Tyre, some six hundred gilding of the ornamental Ieadwork of St. Cha-
years before the Christian era, for their amassing pelle, the .pierced and painted ridge of the Cathe-
of wealth in the tin and lead trade with Tarshish, dral of Bourges and the spire of the Cathedral of
both metals already had had a long and honorable Amiens are fine examples that come readily to
record of service. Tin mind of the work of
was valued at this
time, chiefly, if not
wholly, as an alloy of
bronze, but lead was
considered an import-
ant metal in itself, be-
cause of its malleabil-
ity and its low heat of
fusion, which rendered
its working compara-
tively easy.
One might hit all
the high spots of the
old Mediterranean
civilizations and those
of Asia Minor and find
lead in statuary or or-
nament each time. A
prehistoric statue
found in Egypt marks
the early period of its
use there, continued
the' mediaeval plomb-
ier. Indeed, much of
this handicraft resem-
bled that of the gold-
smith on a colossal
scale and formed an
art quite apart from
the working of wood or
stone.
Practical consider-
ations, no doubt, in-
fluenced the choice of
lead, since it is. not af-
fected by exposure
and so formed an ideal
material for roofing.
Moreover, the ease
with which the roof
and its filigree of lead-
work could be melted
up and poured down
on undesirable people
through most of Egyp- early American tin clock below must have af-
7 • f-r^r Courtesy of Ewin and Robinson r j r r , t
tian history. There ' forded a iurther argu-
are other names to conjure with. The marvelous ment in its favor. It is to this habit of pouring
Minoan civilization of Crete, the five historic hot lead on besiegers that one must ascribe not
cities of the Trojan plain and ancient Mycenae, only the loss of many a "preux cavalier," but also
Sparta, and Athens, itself, form part of the story, of many a fine old roof and finial. There was
The practical genius of the Romans diverted this much sculpture in this material—Dijon in the
accommodating metal both to statues and water fifteenth century was the center of a school of
pipes. The tremendous system of water supply sculpture—and many a sarcophagus and monu-
for Rome had lead piping. Indeed, a stray con- ment of this period are embellished with figures,
signment of pig lead for this purpose was found in in part at least, of lead. The custom of mediaeval
Chester, England, a relic of its Roman occupation, craftsmen in France in making lead figures, was
while pipes have been excavated there bearing the to beat sheets of lead upon a wooden mould,
inscription of their laying in 79 A. D.—"or when The over-lapping edges were usually soldered to-
Vespasian and Titus were consuls for the eighth gethcr, and the figure gave the solid appearance
and ninth times," in the Roman style of dating, of casting, but had really remarkable lightness.
december i 9 2 5
one ninety-three